George Orwell's Animal Farm

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a revolutionary tale full of symbolism and Anthropomorphism. In his novel, Orwell depicts Leon Trotsky perfectly in his character Snowball in everything from the way Snowball is exiled by Napoleon and the way Snowball won the crowd over with his fantastic speeches.

In the Russian Revolution, Leon Trotsky was never in complete control. Trotsky was either second in command or fighting with Joseph Stalin for power. When fighting for power, Trotsky took to writing, using his words to convert many to follow him. Trotsky used his writings to oppose Stalin, and to establish an alternative direction for communism, and his followers became known as Trotskyists(Leon Trotsky). While Vladimir Lenin was still alive Trotsky joined him as a member of the Central Committe of the Bolshevik Party, which Lenin was leader of. As leader, Lenin made Trotsky People's Commisar for Military and Naval Affairs, where he founded and controlled the Red Army. In 1924 Lenin died and, without an opposing leader, Stalin gained cotroll of the Soviet Union. As the new Comunist leader, Stalin exiled opposing political leaders including Trotsky. Banished from his homeland, Trotsky fled to Mexico in 1937 where one of his main supporters lived. Trotsky lived in Mexico for three years until on August 20th one of Stalin's followers attacked and murdered him.

Unfortunately, Snowball meets the same bad fate in Animal Farm. While struggling for power with Napoleon, Snowball uses his fantastic speaking ability to win over the animals, "At this Snowball sprang to his feet, and shouting down the sheep, who had begun bleating again, broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies, but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away (Orwell, George)." Also during their power struggle Napoleon exiles Snowball from the farm. After their speeches about the windmill, when it was obvious Napoleon would lose the vote, Napoleon emits a high-pitched whimper and "at this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him (Orwell, George)."

Orwell's portrayal of Leon Trotsky as Snowball in Animal Farm is wonderful. Snowball and Trotsky both had good ideas and were the true leaders of their societies. Everything in their revolution stories was exact; Orwell did an excellent job of portraying Trotsky in Snowball.

Works Cited

"Leon Trotsky." Fotobuch / Fotokalender / Fotoleinwand - Vom Digitalen Foto Von Fbuch.com. Web. 02 Feb. 2011. <http://www.fbuch.com/leon.htm>.